The integration of transportation and land use planning results in Smarter  Growth  as it examines  the impacts between transportation choice and  land use patterns and addresses options  which will result  in increase travel efficiency and convenience of getting to activities,  improving returns on infrastructure investment, and reducing automobile related greenhouse gas emissions.   In coordination with other state, regional, local and federal agencies and engaging with the public, the Maryland Departments of Planning (MDP) strives to integrate transportation and land use planning that result in a multimodal transportation system that supports Smart Growth opportunities for Maryland communities.

MDP promotes multimodal transportation through various planning processes and activities in order to improve Maryland’s range of access and mobility options, especially its transit, walking, biking and other alternative transportation offered for its citizens and businesses.  In coordination with the Department of Transportation and other state and federal agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, and local jurisdictions, MDP advocates for the development of  multimodal transportation goals, policies, and strategies in state and local transportation plans as well as encouraging transportation investment in programs that build an efficient and sustainable transportation systems.  Intergovernmental coordinated program and project investment efforts ensure the implementation of multimodal transportation goals and policies.

MDP aims to create walkable and compact communities with quality community design and mixed land uses and encourage transit oriented development, and invest transportation projects, particularly in transit and alternative transportation to support smart growth land use patterns so that citizens have the option of walking, bicycling, or taking transit for at least some of these daily activities.   By linking transportation investment with land use planning, MDP also works to avoid or mitigate the adverse land use and environmental effects that a major state transportation project may have on a community.